Container Closure

ABSTRACT

A container closure ( 10 ) including a peripheral ring member ( 20 ) for securing the closure to a container or can body (not shown), and including a molded, polymer ring member ( 14 ) and central end panel ( 12 ) that are removable from the peripheral ring member for opening the end of the container or can body. The polymer ring member is adhesively bonded to a vertical wall portion ( 24 ) of the peripheral ring member and includes an integral lip portion ( 28 ) for covering a raw terminal edge of wall portion  24 . The adhesive is formulated so that the bond fails cohesively during removal of the polymer ring member. The polymer ring member contains an oxygen-scavenging additive for reducing oxygen inside the container and reducing oxygen ingress into the closed container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container closure of the type for use with conventional can closing equipment for closing and sealing a container or can body used for protecting product contained therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is comprised of a three-piece container closure including a molded polymer ring member interposed between a peripheral ring member, used to secure the closure to a container, and a central end panel which is secured to the polymer ring member and removed therewith from the peripheral ring member for opening the container for gaining access to its contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the top of the container closure and illustrates a molded, polymer ring member and an integral pull tab extending radially inwardly therefrom.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view illustrating the polymer ring member secured between a peripheral, metal ring member, which is provided for securing the container closure to a container (not shown), and a central end panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As is shown in FIGS. 1-3, a container closure 10 includes a central panel 12 which is preferably stamped from thin sheet metal, but which in some instances might also be stamped from a sheet of plastic material. Central panel 12 is secured to a molded polymer ring member 14 which encircles the central panel 12 and is adhesively bonded thereto. Ring member 14 includes an integral pull-tab 16 for aiding in the removal of the ring member 14 and the central panel 12 from a conventional container or can body (not shown).

The container closure 10 further includes an annular, metal ring member 18, encircling the aforesaid polymer ring member 14, and which includes an outermost portion 20 to be seamed, or double seamed, to a conventional container or can body for containing and protecting food, beverage, or other product contained within the container or can body.

Metal ring member 18 has an inner portion 22 which terminates in a generally vertical wall portion 24 which interfaces with an outer wall portion 26 of polymer ring member 14, the latter having an integral lip portion 28 covering a raw terminal edge of wall portion 24. Wall portion 26 of ring member 14 is adhesively bonded to vertical wall portion 24 of metal ring member 18 and the adhesive is formulated to fail cohesively when the polymer ring member 14 and central panel 12 are removed by pulling upwardly upon pull-tab 16.

Molded polymer ring member 14 is formulated to include an oxygen-scavenging additive which provides a dual function of reducing oxygen content inside the closed container and also reduces oxygen ingress into the container after being seamed thereto.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawing describe a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood that variations may occur to persons skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claimed subject matter. 

1. A container closure comprising a peripheral ring member for securing said closure to a container, a central end panel, and a molded, polymer ring member securing the end panel to the peripheral ring member, and a pull tab integral with said polymer ring member for removing said polymer ring member and said central end panel from said peripheral ring member.
 2. A container closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral ring member includes a vertical wall portion, and said polymer ring member is adhesively bonded to said vertical wall portion.
 3. A container closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said polymer ring member includes an integral lip portion covering a raw terminal edge of said wall portion.
 4. A container closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said polymer ring member is formulated to include an oxygen-scavenging additive. 